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Radio reporter protests deportation from Hong Kong

A reporter from the Sound of Hope Radio Network yesterday accused the Hong Kong government of infringing upon the freedom of the press and detaining her for nine hours without reason.

Accompanied by Taiwan Solidarity Union Spokeswoman Chou Mei-li (周美里), reporter Ker Yi-chun (柯宜君) told a press conference that riot police at the Hong Kong airport had removed her from the airport's transit area on Sunday while she was taking pictures of a group of meditating Falun Gong practitioners.

Ker was deported yesterday.

Displaying what she said was a copy of hospital document detailing seven abrasions on her body, Ker said police behaved violently despite her having identified herself as a reporter.

"One of them bit me on my wrist for two to three minutes, trying to take my cellphone away from me," Ker said.

She said she saw about 30 people with Republic of China passports in the room where she was detained.

She also said she had not been given food or water while in detention.

"We would like to urge the people of Taiwan to take this incident seriously," Chou said.

"We still don't know how many more Taiwanese remain detained at the Hong Kong airport. We don't have a name list. This is a very serious international incident," Chou said.

"This incident should serve as a warning signal for Taiwanese to stop fantasizing about China," Chou said.

Even on such an international occasion, the Chinese government dared to resort to violence and violate basic human rights," Chou said.

The TSU spokeswoman called on government to negotiate the release of detained Taiwanese.

Hundreds of Falun Gong followers from Taiwan had planned to go to Hong Kong during the celebrations of the territory's return to Beijing's control to participate in a demonstration organized by democracy activists and protest China's suppression of the Falun Gong movement.

As of Sunday, about 300 Taiwanese Falun Gong followers with legal travel documents had been denied entry to the territory and deported back to Taiwan.

The Sound of Hope Radio Network is a US-based network connected with the Falun Gong.
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